Moderator's Report

The final race of Season 28 with one of the closest contested championships between Iestyn & Robert. Iestyn takes 1st place by a point. His consistency on the podium for every race edged out Robert who 5 races. Evil is third place in the championship & it was those 3 drivers who finished on the podium in Brazil.
No reported incidents for this race. In the read zone a couple of Ferrari's had a very tricky time into Curva 3 / Juncao but no contact. Jethro has another unlucky start being an innocent victim on lap 1 - I guess you have used up a career's worth of bad luck in one season.
This was my first season moderating this division & you all have my thanks for making it quite a simple job.

For the final round the Privateers head to SÃ£o Paulo, Brazil, to drive on the fantastic historic Interlagos 1973 circuit. A left handed historic track with a variety of tight and fast corners. The championship was decided last time out â€“ congratulations to Iestyn for a very consistent season. Nevertheless, there is still one more race to be won.

Due to safety concerns with the 4.9 mile circuit, including the bumpy track surface and the inadequate barriers, deep ditches, and embankments, the last Formula One race held on the original Interlagos was in 1980. The remodelled track remains part of the modern day F1 calendar.

Moderating The red zone will be fully moderated. For this event the red zone will be from the start to the exit of Ferradura the first lap . Other moderation will be on reported incidents only. However any incidents that occur in the red zone that are not reported by the drivers may be reported by the moderator. This will allow all affected drivers the opportunity to present their case before the incident is moderated. This should ensure there are no surprises when the moderator's report is published and hence appeals will be less likely

The chassis token system is explained on the Works standings page. Please ensure you choose a chassis that is within your budget, which can be seen by hovering the mouse over your points total in the standings.

Please restrict chat to pit messages including at the end of the race until ALL drivers still racing have crossed the line.

A great race for me and really enjoyed blowing all of my tokens on the Lotus..just to see what it was like.

Robert was setting a stunning pace, and I was hoping that he had not set his qually time on race fuel like me.

From the start I was looking at the rear of Greg's Fezza and he appeared to be struggling through T1 & T2, on race fuel and cold tyres. With the tow down to T3 I was contemplating the pass, but had just considered it too early and too risky when Greg braked about 50 mtrs before I was planning to drop anchor!! A quick test of the brakes confirmed that I would not avoid his rear end if I tried to slow, so I had to go for the pass and dived down the inside. I held it as tight to the inside as I could. I have just watched the replay and Greg stayed so wide that he got onto the grass and flipped...his race over.

Apologies Greg, I was never my intention to force the pass, and certainly not to end your race in the process.

For the next few laps I closed up slowly on Robert but a little over enthusiastic application of gas provoked a tank slapper, and a couple of wheels dropped onto the grass later allowed him to escape. He was so quick that I was never going to catch him unless he made a huge mistake...and Robert does not do "huge" mistakes.

Iestyn kept me honest from behind but it was mostly a lonely race to 2nd place.

Good but lonely race for me. Sad to see Greg had to retire early on. Couldn't break away from Clive first few laps, until he made a mistake. But then a lap later I made a mistake with a wandering mind, nudging the barrier slightly, got lucky only to lose 4s or so. From then on was able to make the gap gradually bigger to Clive, without pushing the engine/gearbox too much...had a nice setup and gearings that allowed for a lot of shortshifting...you tend to get a bit of understeer in lefthanders when the RF tire gets hot(ter)...

Really enjoyed this historic track, despite it's tight parts that usually don't suit me! Hard to get the sectors right as well...

Well done Clive and Iestyn for podium, and finishers. Commiserations to the (early) retirements...

Had a slump mid season, and then blowing up the engine at Silverstone proved too much, as Iestyn always finished on the podium...I did what I had to do, winning last two races at difficult tracks...but it wasn't enough, Greg might have held off Iestyn for P2 at Schottenring, but it wasn't to be...

Many congrats to Iestyn for championship, quite astonishing finishing all races on the podium, well done! Also well done to Clive clinching 3rd! Thanks all for racing and thanks Billy for moderating!

Logged

Driving for Antipasti Racing

Racing is like life, when you get up one more time than you fall, you'll make it through - Alan Kulwicki (1954-1993)

Yikes, again I had only little practise coming into the race but with a lot shorter laptime around interlagos I felt alot more comfortable this time around.. which clearly bodes for trouble..

Was side by side with S. Blood coming through T3, missed my braking point being off racingline and came in too hot in T4, loosing the rear, spun and thereby ruined J. Walters' race, sorry man! - unfair that I was the one able to continue from that :-SMy misery was far from over, coming into T1 on the next lap a overcorrection under braking sends me aiming for the rails and I loose 3 positions (Pelle, Dean and Andreas) - luckily no damage! - I make it by Andreas (who gave plenty of room) and Dean, only to go off a few turns later and spin on the grass coming back on to the track - I again start gaining, only to spin in T1 on L5 - man I have never been so unsteady since I was a noob - after that I finally got into a rythm and passed Andreas, then caught up with Pelle who overshot T3 so I could go by.. slowly but surely caught up with Dean but when I finally did it looked like I would have a hard time overtaking him, only for him to move over and give me the position - apparently only to let me roast in severe pressure as me matching my best laptime left him only inches off my gearbox.. but from seeing replay he followed me taking a too tight line through T-last on the next lap and we both scraped the wall, me - again - escaping unharmed while it seems Dean got bent out of shape and falled behind..

Such a messed up race, but quite fun - though I do think people have a tendency to be a little too nice with positions (not meant personally against you Dean!), I mean I think it's honourable that people are so respectable about not wanting to ruin eachothers races and I thourougly have enjoyed racing in this league, but I do feel that it's mainly the responsibility of the one coming from behind to make a pass and being in front only have to make room if a move is made, I'd rather go off bombdiving too deep than have the position given if I'm honest, just a little shout out..

Grats to Iestyn for such a stable performance throughout the season, and to Robert for 6 wins out of 10, 1 pts in difference, as close as it gets, incredible! - Hope to see you all on the track again soon! :-)

Logged

Peter Antonsen

"You don't need a parachute to go skydiving.. You need a parachute to go skydiving twice.."

Apologies Greg, I was never my intention to force the pass, and certainly not to end your race in the process.

I made a mistake. I should have conceded the position as soon as you got the nose of your car in front of mine. I wasn't thinking clearly. Subconsciously, I was probably thinking, I don't want to get stuck behind someone who will hinder my pace. That thought was probably a figment of my imagination. If following you had slowed me any, it wouldn't have been enough to cause me any problems or irritate me.

GPL can be a cruel b*tch. When I went off, I thought I might get away with my mistake but fall to the back of the field. But that fence was intent on consuming a wheel.

You fast guys often expose my mistakes, however small or few they may be. I should have practiced several race starts from the left side of the track. That was the mistake I made in my practicing. Yes Clive, I got a bad entrance on a poor line into T1. That left me no room to enter T2 as I would have liked. My entry to T2 was a little faster than I would have liked, compromising my line and slowing my exit a bit.

I thought I actually braked a little late for T3. I liked braking at the #4 sign. That never caused me any drama and always gave me a good line. I could wait as long as the #3 sign light on fuel with warm tires but I couldn't do that cleanly and consistently. I knew we were in trouble as soon as I started braking. I lifted off the brakes a bit to try to give you some room and stayed as far right as I could as long as I could. You seem to be much better at braking than me. The car difference may have played a little part too.

It was a good move on your part. About the only reason I pass early in a race is because it can be the safest place to go. I'm never intent on passing someone that qualifies faster than me unless I had a real bad practice session and I think they'll keep me more than a second off my pace. I probably would have passed you if the situation had been reversed.

An unlucky start and lousy finish, made this a season for me to forget. These last two races were discouraging and annoying but as they say, poo happens!

It sucked! I was trying to give you something to think about. I had fun taking pole position from you for a short time. I was intent on making you do 47s to hold it. I couldn't quite get to the low 48s but I was trying. 47s will be a tough nut for me to crack in the Ferrari. It's a shame I missed the opportunity to try to stay somewhat close during the race and it appears I missed what could have been a long fight with Clive. I'm a bit angry with myself doing so poorly these last two races plus I'm screwing up the opportunities to make other drivers' races more lively. I hope I get my act together next season.

Thanks guys. I hope to see you next season.

Logged

You know that some people are differentNow ain't that a crying shameNow wouldn't it be a real drag if we were all the same

...I'd rather go off bombdiving too deep than have the position given if I'm honest...

Agreed, but experience (painfully earned) told me that's not the way it would have played out. I'd have been trying too hard to stay ahead, and one of my mistakes would have ended both our races (I tend to not have "small" crashes ).

If I'd had the chance for more practice (busy with out-of-town visitor this week, hence my absence on Friday), got my setup handling the bumps here better, and the ones in front hadn't been 20+ seconds ahead at that point, I might have fought. As it was, "yield the single place in safe manner, then tuck in behind and harry as best I can" seemed the best option.

Grats to Iestyn, and soooo close Rob (who I'm sure will agree that anyone who drops not one but two podiums (!) really deserves the cup).

I can understand your thinking, in my experience I'm more at risk of taking out someone when I'm behind, so taking that into consideration I think your move might be double as good ;-) and yes suddenly my car clearly changed behaviour and became much more difficult to drive, alone from the fact that I was now right in front of you too bad about your damage, 'cause it seemed we were closely matched :-)

Logged

Peter Antonsen

"You don't need a parachute to go skydiving.. You need a parachute to go skydiving twice.."